“Prayer in this sin”: The head of the Ponevej Yeshiva in a harsh video

Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, head of Yeshiva Ponevezh, president of the Torah Torah Council of the “Flag of Torah”, and who is considered one of the greatest generation in our day, certainly in the ultra-Orthodox-Lithuanian sector, reads sharply and clearly adheres to the Ministry of Health. In a video released last night, Rabbi Edelstein appears to be referring to the instructions, calling for neither to invite nor to stay on the Seder, nor to pray at the minyan.

President of the Torah Torah Council of Rabbi Gershon Edelstein:
“Prayer is a sin!
No one should be invited to the Seder and not allowed to leave the house. ” pic.twitter.com/kqt4wnBb5l

– Yair Sharkey (@yaircherki) March 31, 2020

“Because of the danger of being infected, it is imperative that precautions also be taken so that it does not harm itself and, in particular, does not harm others.” Says Rabbi Edelstein in the video. “There is no prayer in public, no Torah reading – It’s all a danger, impossible. So it will be sin, prayer in public will be sin, reading the Torah will be sin“He emphasizes sharply.

“Soon for Passover, Seder. No one should be invited, no other place must be invited and no invitation can be made either, because it is a danger, it is dangerous. Everyone has to be at home. This is how the doctors’ instructions, everyone in his house, not leave home.”

The rabbi, known to the Lithuanian public as simply “the yeshiva”, simply adds: “Order with fewer people – it is also order, there is Gemara, even one does order.” What’s changed? “Asks himself and answers, can be arranged in units as well. At any rate not to invite guests and not to stay with someone else, it’s a danger, it’s dangerous. ”